Michelle King named LAUSD superintendent, first black woman to hold post

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Michelle King was named LAUSD superintendent on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016.

Michelle King was named LAUSD superintendent on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016.

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Michelle King, center, is flanked by daughter, Colleen, left, and her mother, Ivolene Brewster, right, during the recent Women on Target awards. King was named LAUSD superintendent on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016.

A veteran administrator was tapped to lead the nation’s second-largest school system on Monday, as the Los Angeles Unified School District board chose a longtime teacher and principal to oversee the education of more than 600,000 school children.

LAUSD Deputy Superintendent Michelle King, 54, became the first African-American woman to hold the superintendent post.

Standing near her three daughters during an emotional press conference, King cited her long history with LAUSD, her experience attending Century Park and Windsor elementary schools, and teaching at places such as Porter Middle School in Granada Hills.

Her experience “helps me understand this complex system,” King told reporters. “I do feel it uniquely positions me to have a greater feel for what people want.”

King’s appointment drew praise from United Teachers Los Angeles, the powerful teachers union that’s clashed with board members over policy directives and budget cuts. In a statement, UTLA said King “brings a track record of collaborative efforts” and said she will create “a strong educator, parent, community and youth coalition to strengthen and build the schools that L.A. students deserve.”

King’s appointment, made on a 7-0 vote, firmly closes the door on the John Deasy-era. The former LAUSD superintendent made national headlines with his focus on technology but resigned amid pressure in October 2014 after scrutiny of both his iPad program and the MiSiS computer system rollout.

“This is a breath of fresh air,” said board member Scott Schmerelson of King’s appointment, adding that she is “someone who isn’t beholden to big business” and “someone who doesn’t have the privatization of schools in mind.”

SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Max Arias also commended the LAUSD board on their choice and congratulated King.

“With her long-term experience in the District and dedication to L.A. Unified students, Ms. King’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the children and communities of Los Angeles will serve as a great asset to our City,” according to a union statement. “We look forward to continuing to work with Ms. King to ensure good jobs in our communities and quality education for all students.”

King’s selection comes as the district grapples with budgetary issues, a main priority for the incoming supervisor, she said. She also cited arts and music as priorities for the district and said she would embark on a “listening tour” with parents and community members.

She also pointed to her history-making appointment as the district’s first black woman leader and drew parallels between herself and Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.

King graduated from UCLA with a biology degree and holds a master’s degree in administration from Pepperdine University. After working for decades as a teacher and administrator, she was picked by Superintendent Ramon Cortines for the No. 2 spot at LAUSD.

Cortines came out of retirement in 2014 for his third tour at the helm of LAUSD after Deasy’s resignation.

Standing next to King, LAUSD school board member Steve Zimmer cited the exhaustive search for a new superintendent, a process that began last fall.

Asked what differentiated King from others interviewed by the board, Zimmer said she was the “only candidate who could speak from every level of experience in this district.”